Energy efficient heating.
Created Jun 13 2006 by Zbiggy, Stuczynski
How much will it
cost to heat with radiant electric in-floor heating? 
As simple
as this question is, the answer is not but the good news is: it is easy to
find out.
It depends
when (month of the year). It depends where you are by way of the rate per
kWh (1000 Watts per hour). It depends on the climate zone, how energy efficient
is your house and what temperatures you perceive as
comfortable.
Rates vary.
From as much as 16¢ in Hawaii, 15¢ in
New York, almost 13¢ in Vermont and New
Hampshire or California to as
little as 6¢ in Kentucky.
Let's say you are in NJ where the rate is 11 cents
per 1 kWh. 1 kWh is 1000Watts run CONSTANTLY for an hour. Our 111 sq.ft. mat
(like MG100/10.0/240V) happends to be 1000 Watts or...yes 1 kW. If constantly
run for an hour, in NJ, in 2006 it will cost 11 cents. On average, wintertime,
floor heating connected to the programmable thermostat will run for 10
hours or so. This said, it will cost $1.10 every day in the
winter.
Expensive? Think again. Unlike oil or gas, electric
is often regulated and your local utility will have a hard time to do what your
local gas station or heating oil supplier does day-in and day-out: change the
numbers on the boards high in the sky, next to the highway. But wait, wait,
there is more. Is there anythig good in the future of oil? Who knows. So far -
not so good. How about electric? Well...
Is this how your future roof is going to look like?
Each of the PV panels on this pretty picture perfect
roof is making near 100 Watts of CLEAN power on the sunny day! That's 11
sq.ft. of our floor heating. No moving parts, no pumps, no plumbers. Just
silicone, wires and electronic controlls. And best of all:
IT IS
CLEAN, GREEN RENEWABLE ENERGY, the way energy should
be.
Like...
or
More on Energy Efficiency
of your home:
Heating and
Cooling
During most months, heating and cooling accounts for the bulk of
your energy bill. So taking steps to make your heating and cooling system more
efficient can pay big dividends in the long
run.
Here are some things that
you can do to reduce your monthly heating and cooling
costs:
·
In the winter, set
your thermostat at 68 degrees.
·
In the summer, set
your thermostat at 78 degrees.
·
Change or clean the
filter(s) on your forced-air heating and cooling system monthly. An obstructed
filter raises heating and cooling costs significantly.
·
Close or seal vents
to rarely used rooms.
·
Keep the damper of
your fireplace tightly closed when it's not in use.
·
Check your home's
ductwork to ensure that it's properly insulated and that there are no air leaks
or gaps.
Insulation.
According to 'Today's Homeowner', heating and air
conditioning account for 50 to 70 percent of the energy most American homes use.
Home insulation is one of the best ways to increase energy-efficiency and reduce
the amount of money you spend each month on heating and cooling. Yet most homes
aren't as well insulated as they should be.
Check these areas of your
home to see if they're properly insulated. The energy experts at your
local electric cooperative can tell you exactly how much insulation each of
these areas requires.
·
Your attic, including
the attic door or hatch.
·
The area beneath
floors above unheated space (basements, crawl spaces).
·
Around the walls in a
heated basement or unventilated crawl spaces.
·
Along the edges of
slabs-on-grade.
·
Around ductwork that
passes through unheated areas.
In areas where you can reach
the framing structure, it's easy to add insulation yourself. For hard-to-reach
areas, check with a qualified, licensed insulation contractor to determine the
price and extent of the work your home needs.
Lighting
Improving your lighting efficiency is one of the
easiest ways to decrease your energy bills.
According to the
U.S. Department of Energy, if you replace 25 percent of your incandescent lights
in high-use areas with fluorescents, you can cut your lighting energy bill by
about 50 percent.
Fluorescent
lamps are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last six to 10 times
longer. Although fluorescent and compact fluorescent lamps are more expensive
than incandescent bulbs, they pay for themselves by saving energy over their
lifetime. New LED lights are super efficient but still fairly expensive.
Doors and
Windows
The
condition of your home's windows and doors can have a lot to do with your
monthly energy bill. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the heat lost
through and around windows can account for 10 to 25 percent of your winter
heating bill.
Here are some things you can do to reduce the heating and
cooling energy lost around your home's doors and windows:
·
Replace old,
single-pane windows with new, energy-efficient double-pane
windows.
·
Install storm doors
and windows. If you cannot afford storm windows, use plastic sheeting to act as
temporary storm windows.
·
Hang heavy, insulated
curtains in front of windows.
·
Seal cracks around
window frames and door jams with caulk.
·
Install
weather-stripping around windows and doors.
·
Install door sweeps
along the bottom edge of all exterior doors.
Appliances
Appliances such as
refrigerators, water heaters, and clothes washers and dryers can be big energy
users.
Here are some suggestions
from the Rocky Mountain Institute to help you reduce the amount of energy used
by your appliances:
Refrigerator:
·
For maximum food
safety and energy efficiency, set the thermostat in your refrigerator at 35 to
40 degrees F. Set the freezer at 0 to 5 degrees F.
·
Clean and/or vacuum
the condenser coils once per year.
Water
Heater:
·
Insulate your water
heater with a water heater blanket.
·
Set the thermostat on
your water heater at 115 degrees F.
Clothes Washer and
Dryer:
·
Wash full loads
whenever possible or use lower water level settings for small
loads.
·
Don't overfill your
clothes dryer. Warm air must circulate around the clothes to dry
them.
·
Dry two or more loads
of clothes back-to-back to make use of leftover heat in the
dryer.
·
Clean the dryer's
lint trap often. A full lint trap keeps the warm air from circulating and
overworks the dryer.
Inside
Tips
Off when
you're out: If you use a window air-conditioner, turn it off when you
leave a room for several hours. You will use less energy cooling the room down
later than if you had left the unit running.
Use Fans: Turn your
air-conditioner off on cooler days. Open the windows early in the morning when
it is still cool and/or turn on fans. On days when you just need a bit of a
breeze or on pleasant nights, a ceiling fan alone can do the job. Small portable
fans set at floor level, larger window fans to pull cool air inside or draft hot
air out, and whole-house or attic fans are other cooling options.
Vent Blocked: Keep
air vent clear of obstructions like books or furniture.
Crawl Space Vents:
Vents should be opened during the spring and summer because many areas have
problems with moisture under the home. Closing the vents during spring and
summer can trap the moisture and cause a problem.
Bathroom Ventilation
Vents: It is wise to run ventilation fans in your bathrooms during and 20
minutes after a shower or bath to remove excess moisture in your home. However,
running fans too long can siphon cool, conditioned air you want in your house to
the outside.
Shade Your Windows:
Keep out the sun with shades and/or curtains and keep lights low or off.
Time Your Chores:
Wait until cooler hours to do chores that add humidity to the air, such as
washing and drying clothes, washing dishes, and cooking, and use ventilation
fans in bathrooms and kitchens to help vent that extra moisture.
Painting Soon? If
you're doing some interior painting this spring or summer, choose light colors.
Pale shades reflect sunlight, requiring less lighting.
Read the Manual:
It's always a good idea to hang on to appliance manuals so you can refer to them
for care information and possible energy-saving tips.
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